John Fay recently posted the below lineup for Aaron Harang’s last spring start and suggested that it could be the opening day lineup.
Corey Patterson CF
Jeff Keppingger SS
Ken Griffey Jr. RF
Brandon Phillips 2B
Adam Dunn LF
Edwin Encarnacion 3B
Joey Votto 1B
Javy Valentin C
Aaron Harang P
I have problems with Patterson and his .298 career OBP at the top and Dunn and his good OBP hitting down at #5. That aside, if this is in fact Baker’s lineup opening day, what happens to it when Gonzalez returns from his injury and replaces Keppinger? Does he, and his pathetic career .295 OBP, slide into the two spot? Wow, I sure hope not. Patterson then Gonzalez would be a pretty sad one two punch at the top of the order. Worst ever maybe?
Corey Patterson CF
Alex Gonzalez SS
Ken Griffey Jr. RF
Brandon Phillips 2B
Adam Dunn LF
Edwin Encarnacion 3B
Joey Votto 1B
Javy Valentin C
Scared sufficiently of the prospects of this, I decided to look back through Baker’s managerial career and see what the top two spots in his lineup have looked like. The results are below the fold. Seeing names like Thompson, J Patterson, Vizcaino, D Bell, A Gonzalez (The other one.), N Perez, and Cedeno getting time at the top of the order for Dusty in the past does not alleviate my fears. I guess he does like those bases unclogged.
1993 Games OBP 1-Lewis 101 .302 2-Thompson 95 .375 McGee .353 1-37 3-12 5-18 6-52 1994 Games OBP 1-Lewis 108 .340 2-J Patterson 43 .315 2-Thompson 33 .290 1995 Games OBP 1-Lewis 68 .311 1-D Sanders 50 .327 2-Thompson 70 .317 2-J Patterson 27 .294 2-Benjamin 22 .256 1996 Games OBP 1-Benard 115 .333 1-Javier 30 .336 2-Mueller 47 .401 2-Thompson 38 .301 2-Scarsone 25 .286 1997 Games OBP 1-D Hamilton 110 .354 2-Vizcaino 108 .323 Javier .368 1-34 3-19 6-32 Mueller .369 2-34 7-49 1998 Games OBP 1-D Hamilton 90 .398 1-Benard 48 .396 2-Mueller 108 .383 Javier .385 1-12 3-4 5-26 6-51 1999 Games OBP 1-Benard 125 .359 2-Mueller 84 .388 2-Santangelo 20 .406 2-R Martinez 19 .327 2000 Games OBP 1-Benard 125 .342 2-Mueller 121 .333 2001 Games OBP 1-Benard 75 .320 1-C Murray 68 .319 2-Aurilia 133 .369 2002 Games OBP 1-D Bell 47 .333 1-Lofton 43 .350 1-Goodwin 23 .321 2-Aurilia 113 .305 2003 Games OBP 1-Grudzielanek 69 .366 1-Lofton 52 .352 2-A Gonzalez 76 .295 2-Grudzielanek 45 .366 C Patterson .329 3-37 6-30 2004 Games OBP 1-Walker 58 .352 1-C Patterson 55 .320 2-C Patterson 47 .320 2-Lee 28 .356 2005 Games OBP 1-Hairston 76 .336 1-C Patterson 29 .254 1-N Perez 26 .298 2-N Perez 65 .298 2-Walker 61 .352 2006 Games OBP 1-Pierre 159 .330 2-Walker 32 .356 2-Theriot 29 .412 2-Cedeno 26 .271